Tips for tommrows first outing!

[EdgeCrusher]

Hello

Tomorrow if weather permits i will be heading out for the first Flight with my new raptor 60. Sadly to say im beyond inexperienced and would appreciate any tips you are willing to give on what i should check for or look into so i can have a trouble free day (Mechanical wise :-d) The Heli was prebuilt by someone i hold lots of trust in but i would feel pretty silly if something small was to bring the day to end.

Some questions i have are. When shipped the blades were removed, when i installed them i placed a metal washer that was between the grips on TOP? of the blade and then set a fair amount of tension on the blade. I just want to make sure i placed the washer correctly and a ballpark figure on where to set blades for tension. Also i noticed my tail servo is always making noise, just curious if this is OK or something is incorrect.

Thanks much!

[BarracudaHockey]

Tip: Dont hit the ground or anything attached to it.

Find someone that knows what they are doing to test fly it, this could either save you alot of money or a trip to the ER

The blades come with washers to accomodate different grips, if the blade fits w/o squeezing the grips together with the bolt then you dont need the shims, if theres a loose fit use the shims.

They should be tight enough to stay put if you hold the heli on its side, loose enough to move if you shake it.

Oh and digital servos chatter a bit, thats normal.

[ferincr]

They should be tight enough to stay put if you hold the heli on its side, loose enough to move if you shake it.

I (another newbie) have a question about that.
I read somewhere else that the way to "measure" the tightness of the mains is, as you said put the heli on its side, but give it a jolt, if they move they are too loose.
Does that means that my blades are too tight?
Thanks and sorry for hijacking this thread too
I forgot, bst of lucks tomorrow...

[EdgeCrusher]

Thanks for the help BarracudaHockey

Also as embarrassing as this is. What is the proper way to fuel my tank and headertank. I searched but a direct answer would be more comforting.

Thanks

[WayneBrown]

plead to the gods of ground suck to leave your gear alone.. :D
Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic.. repeat as often as necessary.

[zflarez]

Also be sure to check all servo directions prior to flight especially the throttle. You wouldn't want a hot start

[EdgeCrusher]

On that note, I have a JRX8103 and i did a flight control check and i notice When i switch my Dual rates i notice no physical changes in the head, also when i change my selections on my flight mode From hovering type to 3D don't notice any throttle/collective change. Now either i just made an ass out of myslef or its not programed in the radio? Im awating a new owerns manual so im a little lost on this new radio :( but i thought i would see a change in head/collective with flight mode change along with dual rates.

Thanks for all the help

[BarracudaHockey]

http://www.raptortechnique.com has programming guides, I'm sure he's even got one for JR :)

Cut the fuel line between the header tank and the carb, insert an inline fuel filter, pull the line off the header tank side and pump nitro till both tanks are fuel. If you use an exhaust plug to keep oil dripping on your wifes furniture to a minnimum (this is a good idea, trust me on this) be sure to remove it before trying to fuel.

Let me restate this, if you can find someone, even if you have to drive a couple of hours, that can check over your setup, give you some pointers, and trim out the heli for you, it will be worth many times the money you spend on gas and lunch on the trip.

[bigdwalker]

You DO NOT NEED 3d curves etc yet!!!!! Or dual rates!!!!

YOU DO NEED someone who can check it over hover it, tune the engine etc

If you are a compleate newby do not even start the engine these things can kill you!! they are dangerous.

Hate to put a dampner on things but a raptor 60 is very expensive to fix.

Best advice I got was crawl before i can walk, now that I am walking jog before I run.

Did you use loctite on all metal screws?

Hope you get airborn soon and enjoy it

[EdgeCrusher]

OK guys

just got back from the park and all is well. Was able to run about 1/2 Gallon just in slow forward flight and hover. I have a problem with my tail. It has zero response and will only peruolett* (dont laugh at the spelling) to the right. Will not respond to trim or radio input. When i was doing my preflight at home i did notice when i would make a input the blades would pitch but would seem to hold where it was even with my rudder relaxed on the radio. I thought maybe this was do the centrifugal Force it would naturally center. I did a look over the tail section but i am very inexperienced and probably not looking for the right thing, so if anyone can point me in a direction that would be much appreciated.

[ibepilot]

what kind of GYRO? If its a 401 try flipping the rev switch on the 401, not the transmitter.

Rick

[EdgeCrusher]

Yes sir it is 401, I will give that a shot.

Thanks Ibepilot

[BarracudaHockey]

First off, in heading hold mode the gyro is commanding the helicopter to turn, on the bench it doesnt move so the gyro is patiently waiting for the tail to do what its told, pick up the heli and turn the nose you will see the tail slider return to center and even go the other way.

Do this:

In rate mode (light off) ensure that you have 0 trim on the rudder and 0 sub trim on the rudder channel, the servo arm is straight up and the adjust the linkage length so that the tail pitch slider is 4.5 mm from the tail case.

Give Right rudder, the servo should pull the rod forwards. If thats wrong reverse the rudder channel.

Put the gyro in HH mode (light on solid) and pick up the heli by the head and turn the nose to the left (counter clockwise looking down) and again, the rudder servo should pull the rod frontwards, if thats wrong reverse the gyro.

Make sure your rudder channel end points are set to 100/100 and use the limit pot on the gyro (in rate mode, no light on) and adjust it such that the tail slider does not bind in either direction. It will go farther one way than the other, thats no problem, just make sure its not binding the pushrod in either direction. Take a look at the limit pot, it should be at or above 100. Anything lower than 100 move the servo linkage in one hole and start over.

Also ensure that your tail blades are rotating counter clockwise when looking at the left side of the heli.

[EdgeCrusher]

OK i selected HH from my radio and tried the bench test. I do not see any tail movement when i swing the heli head left to right. I also did as you said with trim. I have 0 sub trim and 0 digital Trim and have full range %100 +- on rudder and did a control check with the radio and its getting full range. I don't not get right rudder servo movment. I get a good toss with left rudder but right rudder gets like a 1/32" toss from center. I pulled off the linkage and gave that a dry test, it would say its free and insnt binding. I also checked the server with the linkage off and it as well will turn fully in both directions no proble. I noticed that when i give left rudder the tail blades will hold that position unless i move my input to center as if they stick there but like i said the linkage is free of binds it felt good.

I looked at the limit pot and this may be pretty stupid but i don't see an indication to where its point. Either its 90 or at 150 :-? I guess can turn it and find out where its point for sure im just a little nervious to mess with this i dont really have a good understanding of it

But thanks so much for you help!

[EdgeCrusher]

Ok i stopped being a girl and adjusted the limit pot and it made a difference now how far should i go with that adjustment?

NVM still the same

[BarracudaHockey]

Do this, move the throttle stick up and back and see if the rudder servo moves. Sounds like you have revo or whatever jr calls it enabled.

[EdgeCrusher]

Did as you said i noticed no change in the tail with throttle or any other stick input. I was told digital servos chatter a little but this thing is loud i can feel it through the pushrod, that doesn't seem normal to me? Also with through my radio menu and the only option was disabled for the revo mixer.

[EdgeCrusher]

Another question for you experienced guys. How common is it for a servo to be bad but move freely in motion with power off. This question is raised because i removed the gyro and plugged my tail servo directly into the receiver and still have the same throw issues. Once again i removed all linkage etc etc servo alone with no gyro will no move right when viewed from the top.

[BarracudaHockey]

Sounds like a good candidate for a new servo.

[WayneBrown]

I'll second that, sounds like the servo is FUBAR

[EdgeCrusher]

I got the PDF file for the Gyro Manual and followed that as best as i could. I got an improvment but i will know for sure when i get out tommrow. To be honest that manual was a little overwhelming but i hope i can get this worked out.

[BarracudaHockey]

http://www.futaba-rc.com/team/team-tip-002.html


BTW I was thinking after I signed off, plug that servo directly into the reciever on a different channel, say the elevator, and see if it goes both ways.

The limit pot adjusts how far the servo moves, the radio atv's on the rudder channel adjust how fast the helicopter piros, thats one of the hardest concepts to get through to a newb about heading hold gyros.

You want the limit pot to give the most travel you can get without binding in either direction with 100/100 set on the atvs. If it doesnt piro fast enough you up the atvs, if its too fast lower them, that wont change how far the servo can move.

[EdgeCrusher]

One question what does AFR and ATV stand for. I came across those several times in that link and have no idea what they mean. :-/ haha Thanks!

[bigdwalker]

go to the trex section and watch finless bobs videos i know its a trex but most is generic and he uses a 401 best heli advice u can get

[BarracudaHockey]

ATV is adjustable travel volume. That is how far an individual servo moves.

AFT is adjustable function rate, thats how far a function moves. For example aileron afr adjusts your aileron throw in a 3 servo ccpm system where as atv justs adjusts the servo plugged into the aileron channel.